U.S. Department of Education refuses to name 2010 Race to the Top reviewers

The U.S. Department of Education this week formally refused an August 26, 2010, Freedom of Information Act request by The Denver Post to name the reviewers who judged specific states in the 2010 Phase 2 Race to the Top competition.

The Denver Post made a formal Freedom of Information Act request for the reviewer’s names who judged Colorado’s application as well as the other finalists.

In a letter written to The Post on Nov. 3, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Management said the information was protected because it was part of the “deliberative process” and because disclosing personal information about individuals “would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”

All 70 reviewers were identified by the Education Department, which also included their biographies on the department’s website. But the department wouldn’t identify which reviewer judged which application — a note of controversy.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.